Facing a team like Grandview doesn’t do much for the opponent’s confidence factor, especially when it falls behind 12-2 in the first set on the Wolves’ home court.
Hannah George, Cherry Creek
File photo by Ray Chen
The two teams are now at opposite ends of the spectrum offensively. Cherry Creek looks to its outside hitters Victoria Kirkemo and Jessica Aschenbrenner for points, while the Wolves have strength down the middle in seniors Erica Denney and Jill Anderson. Kirkemo, a 5-foot-9 sophomore, and Aschenbrenner, a 5-9 senior, are standouts, but kind of new to the varsity scene. They helped the Bruins junior varsity become the Centennial champion last year, but the varsity players also were champions, of Class 5A, and didn’t need any help in an undefeated season.
After all, outside hitter Carrie Baird was picked as the state’s player of the year and Elise Sage, playing opposite Baird, had nine kills in the state final. So, Kirkemo and Aschenbreen were called up at the end of last season, but mostly just practiced and got very little time in real matches.
That apprenticeship has paid off, especially in the Grandview match. After a slow start (each had just two kills in the first set), Kirkemo ended up with 18 kills and Aschenbrenner had 15. The Bruins middles combined for 10 kills, but had their greatest effect defensively, as Katie Jackson had five blocks and Ali Weber four. Creek actually outplayed Grandview right after that early 10-point deficit, but fell well behind again until it was 23-10.
"We got into a different state of mind where we decided to play our game and not worry about what was going on on the other side of the net," Kirkemo said.
Cherry Creek staged a five-point rally. Even though Grandview closed out the set, the Bruins were on their way toward winning the next two games, even posting their own 12-2 lead, in the third set. Grandview played its best in the match for Set 4, never allowing the Bruins to win more than two consecutive points. Creek dominated the early play in the deciding set, winning six of seven points after Wolves right-side hitter Morgan Gradishar got a kill for the first point.
"Every point, we always try to work our hardest," Kirkemo said. "It’s just the game we play every single day and we work so hard to get here. It’s great to win, especially to beat a great team like Grandview."
Where did that come from?
Grandview did excel with first-tempo attacks to Denney (13 kills) and Anderson (nine kills). The best play of the match, however, came on the Bruins side, when setter Hannah George somehow put up a great ball in a scramble from off the court, on the right side. Kirkemo was right in position and ready to attack such a perfect set. She got the kill with a big swing.
"I don’t even know (how it happened)," Kirkemo said. "I told myself I needed to put the ball down for our setter."
Range riding again
Mountain Range, from the Class 5A Front Range League, knows the swings of outrageous fortune. The Mustangs got off to a quick start with 11 wins to begin the season. After that, they lost their next three matches, against much tougher competition.
Coach Tracy Schreiber got the Mustangs back on the winning trail Tuesday with an exciting 22-25, 25-22, 19-25, 25-22, 15-10 win against league rival Legacy. Mountain Range was led by junior outside hitter Tawni Warren’s 16 kills.
Part of the Mustangs' problem in their losses was a strong start in matches, followed up by declining scores. But Mountain Range was solid in the last two sets against the Lightning. Keeley Drozda, the other starting outside hitter, got the Mustangs off to a good Set 5 start with an ace and then setter Kelcy Perkins had a couple of kills to follow up hitting errors from Legacy middle blocker Quincey Noonan.
"Lefty"
Noonan
Noonan is called "Q" by many of her friends and fans, but she might be due for a new nickname. She is playing with a well-wrapped right hand, the legacy from an operation. The senior middle, who has committed to play basketball for the University of Denver, said it has had one benefit. She got a few kills by using her left hand, particularly on balls set a little too far to her left on slide plays.
Noonan led the Lightning with 17 kills against Mountain Range, and there were several other positives for coach Eric Jesse. Outside hitter Nikki Radtke racked up five aces in the first set, four of them coming after she went into serve with the Lightning trailing 22-20. Also, junior Becca Young entered the match in the second set and proceeded to pile up 13 kills with just one hitting error.
Undefeated teams dwindle
Faith Christian, the Class 3A powerhouse out to a 15-0 start, lost its first match of the season last Saturday. Eaton came to Arvada and beat the Eagles in a mighty comeback 20-25, 22-25, 25-20, 25-18, 15-8. The Reds, coached by Lori Willadsen, continued their march with a 25-20, 25-17, 25-16 sweep of Frederick.
In other key matches, Colorado Springs Christian won its toughest league matchup in a 25-16, 25-20, 23-25, 25-20 win against rival The Classical Academy. St. Mary’s, in the Eastern division of the 3A Tri-Peaks League, remains undefeated and faces a huge match Tuesday at Lamar.
Two second-tier teams in the 4A Colorado Springs Metro League also met in a memorable match. Mesa Ridge defeated host Woodland Park 26-24, 23-25, 24-26, 25-22, 15-11. Both teams have fine records, but have dropped league matches to both frontrunning Cheyenne Mountain and runner-up Lewis-Palmer.
